Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1887-06-18
THE PAPAGOS.
A Remark able Tribe OF Chris.
tian Indians in Arizona.
An Agricultural People, Whose Greatest
Enemies are the Apaches.

The Papagos are remarkable tribe of
Indians, who long ago accepted Chris
tianity, and they must have been en-
dowed with great powers of endurance,
since, living on the very frontier Of the
dreaded Apache country, they have re-
sisted the Apache attacks. To-day the
Papagos, especially those found near
San Xavier, are agriculturists, and culti-
vate the rich bottom-lands lying near
the Santa Cruz river. Their dwellings
are straw jcails pronounced hi-cals),
which have generally Sled supported
by poles in front of them. These Papa
gos raise wheat, barley, beans, and
garden truck, but their methods of ag
riculture are very crude. Their thresh-
ing is carried on in the Oriental manner,
by means of horses, and the winnowing
is done by tossing the straw in the air.
To grind their grain the most primitive
methods are used, old women slowly
working the grain into flour by means of
hand stones AS potters they have some
merit, their olIas, or water jugs, being
excellent, and in great demand through
out the region.
They are law abiding and peaceable
people, have always been friendly to the
whites, and when emigrant trains were
L.,
has been often found of great service
against rowing Indians. 1t is probable
that, at the instigation of the whites,
they had hand in the massacre of the
Apaches at Camp Grant some twelve or
fourteen years ago. That they have
been inimical to the Apaches for very
long period is quite evident from the fact
that even to-day, when an attack is
hardly possible, a mounted sentry is IN
varably found in position on the high
ground, and he scans the hills and plains
| around him.
. Tney can hardly be called strictly
honest, but if anything be left under
their charge 1t is carefully guarded.
1 Their religion IS strange mixture oi
! Catholicism and their older original be-
lief. The festivals of the Church are
observed, as are their own dances.
Faith in their medicine-man or conjurer
still exists There exists a curious law oil
atOnement: in case one man kills another,
he may atone for his crime by fasting
for forty days, and living away from {
house, sleeping out on the hills.
Their condition is not a fortunate one, as
they have not been benefited by civiliz
ing influences The ad dministraton of tn,
land laws is pcrplexing to them, an(
there is an inclination on the part of th
white settlers to crowd them out. The,
occupy an anomalous condition, ant
not being the wards of the American
people, are therefore not the recipient
of either ratons, clothes or money.
The cathedral of San Xavier is oil
adobe church erected 10y the FRANCISCAN
order in 1897, and is situated on deser
plain twelve miles south of Tues on, Ari
zona, not far from the Santa Cruz river
It's preservation to-day is remarkable
due to the equable character of the eli
mate and the absence Of rains. No SCI
vice has been held at the cathedral 70
the last twelve years. The plan of th
cathedral, with It's fanking tower an
wall, suggests the power to resist at
tack, for at all times the Apache mus
have been an enemy whose sudden al
tacks were TO be dreaded The intcrio
of the church Is rudeIy decorated. Th
altar ornamentations are designs take
from Biblical sources. aPossibIy ii
Franciscan fathers employea native tai
ent, whose idea Of art was hut crude.
The Untcl States government hs
appointed Mr.. Hart as subagent anon
the Papagos, and he acts as school ma
ter and doctor. : Harper's Weekly.